Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-17
Or. LUDWIG VOLTS EXPLORATIONS.
Cannibalistic Warriors Of Africa-A Vii
lage Of Dwarfs-wlfe Selling.

OH. LUDWIG WOlf'S tNf-OhNIlONo.
lage of Dwarfs-wife Selling.
We little dreamed few years ago that
the Congo had such magnificent tributa-
ries as have been discovered within few
years. DIR. Ludwig Wolf, the eminent
African explorer, found that for long
distance the Sankuru is about three miles
wide, with an average depth Of nine feet.
For 300 miles up the river DIR. Wolf met
a great many canoes. Many of them
were of enormous size, twice the length
of his little steamer, and they easily ac-
commodated eighty rowers. 1t was a
picturesque sight to see these great canoes
with their force of rowers all standing up
and plying their paddles so effectively
that they could far outstrip the steamer
in speed. OF course, the white man and
his putting steamboat created immense
excitement and astonishment, but very
little fear was manifested. Some of the
natives were inclined 10 be hostile, and
one powerful tribe, the Bassongo Mino,
confessed themselves 10 be cannibals.
The colored cloths and trinkets displayed
by the traveller excited their astonish-
ment and envy, and. as DIR. Wolf de-
clined to give all his pretty things away,
they decided to take them without ask
ing permission.
One morning some of these warriors
were overheard talking the matter over.
They said it woul1 be very easy TO kill
the white man and his small party, chop
them up for food, and seize the steamer
and all the beautiful things it contained.
One of DIR. Wolf helpers. a large. fleshy
man, excited their particular admiration,
and they regarded him much as a farmer
does prize porker. As preliminary
TO their scheme of serious hostility, they
began TO pick quarrels with the explo-
rer's men. Their chief, Tongolata, be-
came very insolent, and told Dr. Wolf
he had him quite at his mercy. The ex-
plorer and his little force showed their
guns to the natives, who merely laughed.
They thought the guns as harmless as so
many cudgels cut from thicket, and in
their ignorance did not regard them as
weapons at all.
IDr. Wolf was now able TO do what
many another explorer has done when
hostile savages. counting the little band Of
strangers whom they believed they had
wholly in their power. have decided to
destroy them. He simply paralyzed the
natives by giving them little idea of the
mysterious properties Of the shooting
irons. While he was standing by the
side Of the saucy chief trying to placate
that important savage. the explorer sud-
denly drew his revolver, held it close to
the chiefs ear, and discharged it. The
effect was magical. The chief shivered
from head TO foot with fear. He had
never had such tingling in his ears be-
fore. and he took hold Of them TO see il
they were still there. The big crowd of
yelling. insolent natives were struck
dumb with astonishment and horror. 1t
required the explosion Of only one car
fridge TO convince the savages that these
visitors were very superior beings who
must be treated with due courtesy anG
respect. The polite chief at once pre-
tended TO lie the explorers most excel
lent friend, sent him present Of two
chickens. and allowed him 10 20 on his
way unmolested.
One day when DIR. Wolf was tramping
through forest he suddenly came TO a
grassy opening and saw before him a
large village of the Batua iwarfs. whom
Stanley heard of when he first descended
the Congo. though he did not see them.
These curious little creatures. who are
spread over a large extent Of country
south Of the Congo. are very similar to
the Aka dwarfs whom Schweinfnrth
discovered north Of that river. They are
timid little folks. and they would doubt
less have run away IL they had seen DIR.
Wolf Sefore he suddenly appeared
among them. He found them living in
mean looking grass huts. Around their
village were many carefully covered pit
falls, nine 10 twelve feet deep, which they
had dug for the purpose of catching any
elephants, bufTaloes and wild boars that
might venture out of the forest to feed in
the grassy glade where the dwarfs lived.
At first the dwarfs, quaking with fear,
gazed on the white man from distance,
but finally they became quite friendly.
They are little over four feet high, are
coffee brown in color, and are well shaped.
They make no attempt TO cultivate the
soil, but live solely by hunting. with their
bows and arrows and spears. They dry
a good deal OF meat, which they sell
among the neighboring tribes for lndiar
corn. manioc, and other vegetable pro
ducts. Lukengo, the king Of one large
tribe, keeps quite a number Of Batua in
his service, and il IL their business 10 pro
vide game and palm wine for the king
table. DIR. Wolf says they are exceedingly
skillful in the management Of their bows
arrows and spears.
The Baluba, whom Wolf and Wiss
mann found about 150 miles south Of th,
junction of the Kassai and Sankuru riv'
ers. are among the gentlest and most in
telligent people who have been found In
Africa. Tvey have, however, one ex'
ceedingly bad practice. DIR. Wolf sayt
that they have become very fond Of gun.
since trading tribes who live nearer the
white men have introduced these wea,
pons among them. and they will sell theil
daughters and even their wives 10 procure
guns and ammunition. These people hav,
snany excellent proverbs and maxims
mch as these: Law Is better than force,
and .Iife is better than wealth." The,
are regarded as being, In most respects
peculiarly amenable 10 civilizing infiu
ences. For all that, they support one o
the greatest native slave markets u